Law is the system of rules and standards that a community recognizes as binding its members, and which is enforced through a controlling authority. This is distinct from social norms, which are culturally accepted but not legally enforceable. Laws are typically codified in written form, and may be published or unpublished. Laws can be either positive or negative in nature. Positive laws are those that govern a state or community’s policies and practices, and may include constitutional, criminal, or administrative law.
Negative laws are those that limit a person’s freedom, and are usually created by the court through the process of statutory interpretation. They may be in the form of statutes, regulations, or treaties. Laws may be applied to individuals or organizations, and can include property, contract, family, and immigration law. The concept of law encompasses the concepts of legal rights and duties, ethical conduct, and the principles of justice, equity, and fairness.
The study of law is an academic discipline, and is commonly taught in universities throughout the world. Many of these institutions offer specialized degrees, such as master’s and doctorate degrees in law, and also provide jurisprudence courses. In addition to the foundational introductory and core courses, students typically take courses in contracts, torts, civil procedure, property, labor law, and evidence. Some universities provide clinical (experiential) opportunities for students as part of their course work.
There are numerous benefits of pursuing a career in Law. Among these, the top reasons include:
Earn More and Becoming Rich – Law is one of the few professions where you have the chance to earn more than many other careers. This is because you are paid a fee depending on the stature of the case that you have to defend. The more big cases you will win, the more you will earn.
Respect of Society – Lawyers are learners of every human aspect and they are considered to be very intelligent professionals. Due to this, they receive massive respect of the society and have a good rapport with everyone. This is a great advantage of this field and makes it an ideal career choice for anyone.
Legal Uniformity – Law ensures the uniformity of justice, and avoids arbitrary, biased, or dishonest decisions. This is done by following fixed principles in all cases, which ensures that justice is distributed fairly.
The term ‘law’ is a wide-ranging one, and Oxford Reference offers more than 34,000 concise definitions and in-depth, specialist encyclopedic entries. These cover everything from criminal, tax, and social security law to family and employment law, international law, and major debates in legal theory. This trusted resource provides authoritative, accessible information for researchers at all levels.